Business News

DPA Launches New Website

DPA has launched a new website. It retains the large amount of information and resources from the previous site, including the Microphone University, which provides useful information about microphone design, interfacing, stereo and surround techniques and recording in general, as well as product information, user stories and distributor info.

Additionally, the site has undergone a complete redesign, bringing it up-to-date and consistent with DPA's corporate branding, advertising and trade show visuals. Graphics are bolder and improved, and the site features new product photography throughout.

"We wanted to make our website even more user friendly, with a good search function, easy navigation and well-organised content," says Anne Berggrein, head of marketing at DPA. "We've made better use of the images, upgraded the search engine and included an on-the-fly product sheet generator and flash catalogue page flip. We'll be continuously improving the site with new features to constantly improve the user experience, including a more in-depth product guide to help users choose the most suitable mic, samples of recordings, and application videos."

DPA Microphones also has a new page on Facebook where it will be posting news, info, photos and videos.

First Australian Midas PRO6 Sold to Osmond Electronics of Adelaide

Bosch Security Systems Australia has sold the country's first Midas PRO6 Live Audio System to Osmond Electronics. This follows a tradition of firsts for Adelaide-based company, which also bought the first Midas XL3 and XL200 consoles in the country during the nineties.

Osmond specified their PRO6 with the DL431 Input splitter and DL451 I/O box usually supplied with the XL8. The DL431 will allow a total of five output splits from a single input with dual variable gain pre-amps providing both digital and analogue splits, with an additional transformer isolated analogue output as the fifth split. Increased functionality will also be provided by the DL451 I/O box by way of remote inputs and outputs for the system, in addition to the DL451 I/O cards fitted into the PRO6 surface. Each DL451 box and the PRO6 surface contain three module slots that allow input and output modules to be changed and moved around within the system.

The Osmond PRO6 will join an existing inventory of Midas analogue consoles including XL200, XL3, Heritage 3000, Venice and Verona consoles as well as a large collection of Klark Teknik outboard.

In picture:  Osmond operations manager Kostas Psorakis and production manager Mike Longmire with their new Midas PRO6.

Chauvet Launches New Web Site

Hollywood, FL-based Chauvet recently launched a completely redesigned and enhanced web site with a fresh, edgy appearance, a user-friendly format and expanded content.

"The updated and fresh site reflects our commitment to stay innovative and ahead of the curve as a leader in professional lighting," said CEO Albert Chauvet.

The new site, at www.chauvetlighting.com, is visually more appealing and easier to navigate, yet provides more user-oriented information and expanded product information.

Notable changes include a search engine, a product Quick Find, a dealer locator and the addition of tabs that lead visitors to specific product ranges suited for the particulars of the different markets Chauvet  targets: club/DJ, production and architectural. Such differentiation is crucial because Chauvet caters to a wide range of users, from mobile DJs to touring LDs and architectural installers, under one single brand name.

"We felt it was imperative to segment our products in ways that would minimize the time our diverse clients spend researching and finding products relevant to a particular application," Chauvet said.

Lab.gruppen Acquires Dolby Lake Processor Technology and Lake Brand

Lab.gruppen has announced its acquisition of the Lake trademarks and the exclusive rights for use of Dolby Lake Processor (DLP) technology for both touring and permanent sound reinforcement markets, from Dolby Laboratories, Inc.

The technology currently referred to as "DLP technology" as used in the PLM Series will, in the future, be called ‘Lake technology or Lake Processing'. The Dolby Lake Controller (DLC) PLM Edition software will be forthwith known as ‘Lake Controller software' as new versions of the software are expected to be compatible with both the stand alone DLPs as well as the PLM Series products.

Lake technology is used in several successful products including the original Lake products, Mesa Quad EQ and Contour; the Dolby Lake Processor from Dolby Laboratories and the PLM Series Powered Loudspeaker Management systems. Specifically, this agreement allows Lab.gruppen to further develop the Lake Controller software and firmware and to utilize the Lake brand name and allied technologies in Lab.gruppen-branded and stand-alone products for use in the Touring and Permanent Sound Reinforcement markets as demands dictate. Lab.gruppen has secured exclusive access to the source code and algorithms for these markets that are at the heart of the DLP and PLM and this will allow the company to create further generations of the programs for use with existing Dolby Lake Processors and with the company's PLM Series of Powered Loudspeaker Management systems.

"This is a significant step for our company," stated Tomas Lilja, managing director at Lab.gruppen. "Having the exclusive rights to the Lake technology in these markets allows Lab.gruppen to continue developing the Lake software and firmware for use in our own products and all the thousands of DLPs out there. We are sure the market will be happy to hear that.

"Lab.gruppen is extremely pleased to have acquired the very well respected Lake brand name," continues Lilja. "We see this as very important to the future growth of Lab.gruppen. Although the Lake brand will be developed separately from Lab.gruppen, the technology will have its own life within our organization. Lake technology will form the backbone of all future iterations of our unique Powered Loudspeaker Management systems. We are also very aware of the demand for stand-alone processing and assessing this market is high on our agenda. We are hoping that, through our support of the existing DLP user base - with software updates and new features - and via the increasing number of PLM customers, we can swiftly research new product development possibilities."

"Over the last few years Lab.gruppen has been a trusted partner of Dolby and we have recognized their commitment to supporting the live sound industry," said John Carey, vice president, worldwide sales, products and services, Dolby Laboratories. "As we pass the live sound torch to Lab.gruppen we are confident that they will continue to innovate and evolve the technology and brand many have grown to love in this industry."

In picture:Carl Rohdell, project manager; Håkan Gustafsson, product engineering manager;  Tomas Lilja, CEO; Emil Tirén, software engineer and Klas Dalbjörn, product research manager played important roles in the Lake acquisition and technology transfer.

Osram Enters Joint Venture with LED System and Solution Specialist Traxon Technologies

Osram is strengthening its portfolio in the field of professional LED lighting systems and solutions by setting up a joint venture with Traxon Technologies Ltd., Hong Kong. The new company, in which Osram has the majority shareholding, is one of the leading providers in the fast-growing market for LED technology in the field of architectural, hospitality and shop lighting. The company employs around 135 people and reported sales of around 17 million Euros in fiscal 2008. The company is operating globally in Asia, Europe and North America. The parties have agreed to keep the purchase price undisclosed and the transaction is subject to the approval of the responsible cartel authorities.

"This new joint venture will make Osram one of the leading providers of LED lighting solutions. The benefits of this partnership are very clear: We intend to create an integrated offering across the entire LED spectrum which will be marketed through the joint worldwide partner- and sales network," explains Osram CEO Martin Goetzeler. "The joint venture will also act as a powerful driving force for the continuing innovative development of Osram's components business."

"With clear focus on the customers needs this Joint Venture will be the choice for LED projects, systems and solutions. We will continue to build on our partnerships around the world to make it happen," says Nicolai Wiest, CEO of Traxon.

The joint venture will bring the combined know-how of Osram and the both Traxon Technologies companies Traxon and e:cue Lighting Controls to offer customers integrated LED lighting solutions. Traxon not only offers a leading technology portfolio, it also has outstanding contacts in worldwide project business to architects and lighting designers. The range of light management and control software offered by e:cue plus Traxon's focus on LED system and solution business are an important

addition to Osram's product portfolio.

Operating under the new name "Traxon Technologies - An Osram Company" the joint venture will continue to operate from its head office in Hong Kong while Traxon's research and development activities will remain in Paderborn, Germany, and Hong Kong.

RMS: a Successful Year in 2008

RMS (Rental Management Systems), the leading software for rental company, is about to end a very successful year. With over 40 new installations, sales of the latest RMS25 have been beyond expectations. Also, more and more existing users opted for an expansion of their existing system.

The demand of users for new features in the software resulted in a entirely new designed multisites-module, which will be installed in Denmark in December. Five locations of a major AV-hire company will be linked together using SQL-servers and internet/VPN connections.

Another new development is the use of RFID-tags. RMS will be incorporating RFID in a new project, together with a mayor Belgium rental company. The new software will allow them better overview of the exact items going out and returning.

RMS (Rental Management Systems) has been involved in planning and calculation software since 1987. The company was the first to develop vertical software for the AV- and entertainment industry.

www.rmsplanning.com

MC2 Audio has announced the appointment of CMI Music & Audio as their sole distributor for Australia.

Established in 1978 as a musical instrument distributor, the company successfully expanded into the pro audio market representing such products as HK Audio, dB Technologies & Wharfedale Pro and more recently, have entered into the software/hi-tech market with the distributorship of groundbreaking Native Instruments and Arturia software, as well as innovative Belkin products. With its broad product portfolio, CMI Music & Audio has become one of Australia's largest and most respected music product distributors.

While CMI's head office and national distribution warehouse are located in Melbourne, the company maintains a national presence through sales offices and territory managers who service an extensive dealership network across all Australian states and territories. CMI Music & Audio's product ranges are supported by the company's extensive experience in sales, service, marketing and distribution, all of which is underpinned by local market knowledge.

CMI's managing director, Peter Trojkovic states: WWe have worked hard to reach the position we now enjoy and that success has been achieved through the commitment we make to the brands we represent, our strong marketing strategies and most importantly, through our attention to excellent standards of customer care from the point of sale through to technical support, training and servicing."

MC2 Audio sales and marketing director, Bill Woods comments: "Although we have just recently started with CMI, we spent a good deal of time with Peter and sales director Graeme Mitchell at PLASA and we are extremely confident in their sales and marketing abilities. The coming year will be very busy for MC² Audio distributors with the introduction of Ti Series, T3500 and E90 as well as even more exciting products and I am delighted to have such a professional team working with us in the growing Australian market."

In picture: Bill Woods, sales and marketing director MC2 Audio; Peter Trojkavic, CEO/company director CMI; Graeme Mitchell, sales and marketing director CMI.

LITEC Launches New Website

LITEC's new website is now up and running. It has been entirely redesigned with a vibrant look in line with the new corporate image of LITEC, and filled with new significant contents and effective services.

The website was programmed and optimised in line with up-to-date technological trends. Quick and easy to navigate, it was conceived to be a real work instrument as well as an extraordinary lab of ideas and initiatives dedicated to users such as events, promotions, training activities, and much more.

The site is divided into different sections that are easily reachable from any page with a single click. All the information is provided promptly, synthetically and exhaustively.

Among the most important innovations is the Products section. The new categorisation of products has been studied to make the whole range of LITEC offer more understandable and closer to the actual use of its customers. Beside each product with its main technical features, the user can consult a comprehensive range of accessories and connection systems, download all the technical documents, and study the gallery of installations where that product was applied.

In addition, to create more opportunities to know and link products with products, it is possible to cross link and cross reference them. From now it's also possible to find a product by just typing its code or part of it in the search box on the site. In this way, all the information about a single product will be collected quickly and directly from one page.

The other website sections are also interactive and dynamic. The Company one highlights a corporate profile, the mission and the most distinguishing points of strength of LITEC, and gives an overview of Vitec Group plc.

The News and Events section on one hand shows all the news covering a wide range of LITEC initiatives and on the other reserves a whole area to press with the latest press releases and downloads. The Sales page illustrates the international distribution network. The Training and Newsletter sections provide useful information about LITEC actions, and the Careers area is thought for people that would like to join LITEC team. Finally, the FAQ area is devoted to some of the most relevant questions about this sector and LITEC products.

The website is going to be constantly improved and updated to respond to users' needs and expectations. Some new innovative services have already been planned and will be implemented in the near future. LITEC, one of the leading companies in the construction of aluminium structures for entertainment worldwide, has always been considered a pioneer of innovation not only for products but also for design and communication.

www.litectruss.com

Selecon Celebrates New-Look Website

Selecon has announced the launch of their completely redesigned website this week - the contemporary, user-friendly and elegantly designed interface brings the company's extensive range of both theatrical and architectural lighting products together in one place; an amalgamation of the Selecon and ARDIIS brands which reflects Selecon's recent review of its purpose, vision, inspiration, principles and culture. Many will be pleased to note that drop-down menus are now a thing of the past!

Navigation around the wide range of product information and support together with the extensive technical and educational resources that the site contains has been made simpler and easier. Each product has a tailored layout which is split into four tabs - overview, features, specifications which includes access to all product support downloads plus the Selecon lighting calculator, and accessories so you can quickly access the information you require or learn about the product at your own pace.

New back-end enhancements allow for a more flexible operation of the Selecon site with a new ‘search' function on products by either family name or luminaire type via the support section in the main menu bar. This powerful function is a one-click way to pull a quick overview, lighting calculator, specifications, downloads, related products and accessories together in one place for the product which is of interest to you.

News and Showcase items now feature large banner images on all items which bring a new level of sophistication and interest to these sections while Resources delivers everything Selecon from the Switched On educational support section to items of technical and product support to a Knowledge Bank of items of interest and learning to Getting Started to Lighting for Worship and much more!

www.seleconlight.com

LOUD Technologies Inc. Announces Restructuring

LOUD Technologies Inc. has announced a reorganisation of its marketing, sales and engineering functions.

Under the new organisation, product strategy, development and marketing for the company's MI and Pro businesses will be managed by separate, dedicated product management teams, while marketing communications for all LOUD brands will be consolidated and managed by a shared marketing support team. The Company's worldwide engineering resources will be scaled accordingly to support a more focused product development schedule. LOUD will also move North American sales from its current captive sales force to a group of independent sales representation firms and consolidate portions of its international sales force.

The restructuring is expected to generate a net reduction of approximately 90 full-time positions, and should be implemented by the end of 2008.

City Theatrical Announces SHoW DMX OEM Partners

City Theatrical announced its first eight SHoW DMX technology partners at the Lighting Dimensions International show in Las Vegas on October 25.

CTI's OEM partners have committed to using SHoW DMX technology inside their products and many innovative examples of their work were seen around the show floor at LDI, including wireless dimmers, wireless distributed dimming, wireless DMX transmitters and receivers, wireless lighting controllers, and wireless remote control circuit breaker panels.

The newly announced partners include (in alphabetical order)

Applied Technology (USA)   
Easily LED  (UK)   

Electronics Diversified Inc. (EDI) (USA)  
Johnson Systems  (Canada)
Lex Products (USA)  
LynTec (USA)
LSC  (Australia)   
Zero 88 (UK)

CTI's SHoW DMX system synchronizes the hopping pattern of the radio with the incoming DMX packet to attain levels of data fidelity previously unreachable with wireless DMX. Additionally, SHoW DMX has a range of features including adjustable output power, limited bandwidth mode, and limited burst mode that allow it to peacefully coexist with other radio signals in the busy 2.4GHz band.

SHoW DMX also is fully RDM so users can change radio settings and monitor receiver strength from their laptop during the performance, as well as monitor other manufacturers' RDM gear on their production. SHoW DMX is also fully compatible with Art-Net.

City Theatrical offers a broad range of engineering services for other manufacturers who want to implement wireless DMX into their products, and works closely with them to insure their success.

In picture at LDI (left to right): Larry Dunn, City Theatrical; Gary Pritchard, LSC; Scott Humphrey, Applied Electronics; Jon Leonard, Applied Electronics; Mike Rampmeyer, Applied Electronics; Graham Eales, Zero 88; Shaun Johnson, Johnson Systems; Sam Heigle, Electronics Diversified; Dan Nguyen, LynTec; Gary Fails, City Theatrical.

TransAudio Group to Distribute Daking Worldwide

Brad Lunde, president of Transamerica Audio Group (TAG), has announced the company's new international distribution agreement with Geoffrey Daking, Inc. Co, which expands on its long-standing U.S. distribution agreement. Because Daking designs straightforward, no-compromise outboard processing gear, it has become a cornerstone of the TransAudio Group's domestic line, which includes many of the brightest names in high-end studio/installed sound equipment.

The decision to expand their relationship internationally coincides with the introduction of Daking's Mic-Pre One, an elaborated single-channel version of the Daking Mic-Pre IV housed in a "DI-style" enclosure. Early reports suggest the renown of the Mic-Pre One may soon eclipse that of its progenitor. Other Daking products include the FET Compressor II, the Mic-Pre/EQ, and a host of modular components for customized console construction.

"There is a large and growing demand for the Daking products both domestically and internationally," said Lunde. "Since we now have the logistics in place to deliver the same level of service abroad as we do here in the U.S., it made sense to expand our role with Daking and deliver value overseas."

TransAudio Group, founded by industry veteran Brad Lunde, has quickly become the premier U.S. importer/distributor and/or U.S. sales and marketing representative for high-end audio. Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the norm.

City Theatrical Gains U.S. Patent for Wireless DMX

City Theatrical has been granted U.S. Patent number 7,432,803 for its wireless technology.

Wireless DMX is used in entertainment technology to control a wide variety of electronic devices including moving lights, dimmers, fog machines, and colour changers, without the need for running data cables. City Theatrical's wireless DMX is similar in concept to a home or business WiFi system, but uses a much more robust and powerful radio transport method to ensure reliability of mission critical systems.

CTI's patent covers the transmission of DMX, RDM, and ACN via the means of FHSS (frequency hopping spread spectrum) radios as well as DHSS (direct sequence spread spectrum) radios, in the 2.4 GHz range. Also covered are the bi-directional broadcast of data, and the concept of a remote monitor for RDM and ACN.

City Theatrical's President, Gary Fails commented: "This patent is the result of over seven years of product development effort by Larry Dunn and Paul Kleissler, beginning when they were both independent engineers consulting with CTI, and leading  to them joining the company, Larry in 2003 and Paul in 2007.  We have put thousands of hours of effort into our wireless DMX products like our multi award-winning SHoW DMX, and this U.S. Patent recognizes our contribution to this leading edge technology."

Prolyte Releases Black Book at PLASA Show

During a successful PLASA show, Prolyte has launched the completely restyled, updated and rewritten Black Book in an English version. The so-called "black book" is formerly known and cherished as the technical matters in the white brochure.

A special German version was released in 2007, focusing on the special regulations and rules for the German market. Based on this version the newly released English translation is, yet again, fully updated with new developments, like the European CWA 25 workshop agreement.

"We are aware that numerous technicians carry our brochure around, just to have all the detailed and practical information on truss and rigging topics at hand, which is one of the reasons why we have published the black book in a handy A5 format. Developments on international regulations are progressing strongly and Prolyte is always keen to inform their customers on the latest trends and developments," states Marina Prak, marketing manager at Prolyte.

"In our opinion good customer service consists primarily in continuously improving the information available to users. Better and appropriate use of trusses is of great benefit to both our customers and users. In the long term this means enhanced safety, satisfied customers and greater awareness of users when employing trusses."

The Black book can be obtained though the Prolyte distributors of by requesting your copy on info@prolyte.com.

ChainMaster Establishes Distribution Network in Australia

ChainMaster Bühnentechnik GmbH of Eilenburg now has a distribution and sales partner in Australia with a head office near Brisbane on the Gold Coast and branches in Melbourne and Sydney. Contact details are available upon enquiry from ChainMaster. ChainMaster is among the most highly respected manufacturers of chain hoists and chain-hoist controllers in the world and can point already to its first reference project in Australia: the Gold Coast Convention Centre, which has just taken delivery of twelve electric chain-hoists - each with a lifting capacity of 1000kg. The hoists in question are extremely versatile and will be able to adapt flexibly to the differing demands of the various events staged at the Centre.

Procon: 20 Years of Event Technology

The Procon group, the leading international full-service supplier of technical equipment for events and television productions, is celebrating 20 years of business. In August 1988 Morten Carlsson, current CEO of Procon, founded the company ‘Procon Bühnen Produktions GmbH' in Hamburg with two partners who are now no longer with the company. Since then the company has grown from being a specialist in lighting technology into a full service supplier for events and television productions.

Morten Carlsson became involved in the events market whilst still at school and later became one of the co-founders of a small lighting company in Flensburg (a small town in northern Germany). In August 1988 he founded Procon with two partners, and various company acquisitions followed with the acquisition of majority holdings in suppliers of video technology, camera technology, sound technology and stage construction. Finally, in 1999 the company became a public limited partnership. In the following years Procon acquired other companies and opened new branches and subsidiaries.

Today the Procon group supplies equipment for projects around the world. It offers its skills as a full-service supplier for events, film and television productions in two commercial sectors: event engineering under the name ‘PROCON Event Engineering', and  film light and camera technology under the name ‘Cinegate'.

With locations in Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Brussels, Shanghai, Zurich, London, Cape Town and Budapest, Procon is represented in eight countries. The company currently employs more than 450 employees and holds one of the largest equipment stocks in the market with a value of more than 188 million euros. In 2007 the group achieved a turnover of 92.9 million euros.

During the last 20 years Procon had the opportunity to supply various major events worldwide: the Olympic Games in Sydney, Athens and Beijing; the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens and Belgrade as well as various world exhibitions.

Kinesys Announces two Australian Distributors

UK-based automation specialist Kinesys has appointed two Australian distributors - TC Hasemer and HME - reflecting the growing importance of the Australian market and its enthusiasm for new technology.

The two companies - both headquartered in New South Wales - will be covering different elements of the market. TC Hasemer will be concentrating on the rental and production companies, live events and temporary installations. HME's core market is permanent venue installations, theatrical refurbishments etc.

Kinesys is best known for its Elevation Series of hoist controllers and Vector and K2 control software. Dave Weatherhead explains that there are already several Kinesys clients in Australia, and one of the reasons for appointing the new distributors is to ensure that anyone using the products will have access to the same high levels of service and support enjoyed by Kinesys users in other parts of the world.

"We've generally been getting an increasing amount of inquiries from the region recently," says Weatherhead, adding that more concert world tours are now including the country on their itineraries, which is another reason for having good local support.

Australia is also an ideal commercial and geographical hub for sales and support across Asia, the Far East and the Pan Pacific areas.

TC Hasemer first encountered Kinesys about 12 months ago via leading Australian rental company Chameleon Touring. They already deal with several European brands, and are a distributor for GIS Liftchamp hoists, for which they specifically wanted to maximise the advanced features on the newest motors by adding automation control. The GIS hoists are also popular in the theatre world, so it was a case of Kinesys controllers being "The perfect fit all round" says operations manager John Ward. Ward states that having Kinesys onboard will "open new markets here in Australia."

He sees great opportunities in the staging and concert rental market as well as theatres, government owned venues and Australia's burgeoning "worship" industry.

HME are specialists in mechanical design and engineering, providing solutions for rigging, lifting and height safety. They are a growing company and foresee an active future for Kinesys products particularly in the larger professional venues/entertainment centres, in Australia's extensive Community Club based entertainment market, private schools and new regional developments.

HME's Glenn Harris explains that they are frequently asked to design control systems that incorporate variable speed, change position, stop on position, etc., which resulted in them "Identifying the need for a product based control solution in the Australian market". After researching all the options and seeing Kinesys as a "market leading brand in the UK", they intend to make this the case in Australia.

Bandit History: 40 Years of Excellence

Part 6: How Can We Make It Better?

Bandit Lites' pursuit of excellence began with one 12-year-old child in 1968 and grew into a global leader in entertainment lighting. To borrow a phrase from the Grateful Dead, the "long strange journey" has been a very interesting one. The company was named "Bandit" because Michael Strickland and staff initially "borrowed" the lights from the local high school theater to light the Monkees, The Beach Boys and other bands of the era.

The growth of the company continued as Strickland attended the University of Tennessee for degrees in business and law. Fires, inventions and great people made the ride action packed. Around the same time the company nearly lost everything in a 1979 fire, an artist named Kenny Rogers came onto the scene. The 80's brought tremendous success with hair bands like Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot and Ratt as Bandit led the way. The country craze proved a big boost with Kenny Rogers, Mickey Gilley and Alabama as well as a host of others. The Southern Rock genre was literally the rage in the 80's as Bandit led the way with Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot, the Outlaws and other notable acts in that same period.

The ownership of Thomas Engineering, Avo and Tomcat all took root in the 80's and were all sold later in the 90's. Bandit began purchasing real estate, a move that would be very beneficial for the future of the company. This was a crucial time in the development of the ‘Bandit Standard', the ideology behind Bandit today.

Bandit continued to move forward and with the assistance of Mikey Weiss, Bandit took a leadership role in the industry in fall protection in the 90's. The term ‘Humanomics' came into being in the early 90's, and that philosophy of business planning based on the concern for people has steered Bandit Lites ever since. Bandit manufactures a full range of motor control devices, power distribution devices and other items to meet the needs of the global market they serve. The development of real estate ownership became a part of the Bandit business plan in the 90's and the holdings of the firm are very large today.

Throughout the 90s and toward today, Bandit has had key partnerships with High End Systems, Martin and Vari*Lite as light fixtures became more sophisticated and more in demand. Today Bandit continues those relationships as media control and LED products are racing to the forefront of the industry.

Through the years, Bandit has proudly had the opportunity to work on world-renowned events such as Super Bowl Halftime shows, Woodstock, Bonnaroo, WWE, CMA Music Festival, Presidential Inaugural Balls, Blenheim Palace Festivals, and hundreds of other such shows. Van Halen, Queen, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, R.E.M., Radiohead and too many other great acts have allowed Bandit the privileged of touring with them. The depth and width of the 40-year body of work Bandit Lites has enjoyed is the reward for the development of the ‘Bandit Standard' that the company designed and implemented over time.

Bandit's future includes building expansions in Nashville and London. A new 50,000

square foot facility is being readied in London to better serve the needs of the European market. New staff is being hired and millions of pounds in new equipment was added to an already impressive inventory in June 2008. Nashville will see improvements to Venue One including an upgrade of the in-house programming suites and a new hang room, giving that location a total of two hang rooms.

Bandit continues to invest in new media servers and control consoles, as well as into new digital lighting products and LED products as clients request them. The search for good people to join the Bandit family is a never-ending task, as is the constant quest to improve conditions in the work environment.

Another exciting step forward for Bandit is the recent appointment of Peter M. Heffernan, a 30-year veteran, as president of the firm. Heffernan is now serving as both President and C.O.O., a role he has held for the last 15 years. Heffernan began his fulltime relationship with Bandit Lites in 1978. He moved into an administrative position in 1985 after serving as a lighting director and production manager for a number of touring artists including Blackfoot and Quiet Riot among others. As president and C.O.O. he will be working with the staff and management overseeing the day-to-day operations in order to grow Bandit even further in the years to come.

Finally, and most important, are the hundreds of incredible people globally that make up Bandit Lites. None of the success would have been possible without the dedication, ethics and hard work from the people that are Bandit Lites. Quite simply, Bandit Lites people! Any firm can buy equipment, but it takes special people to make it all successful and Bandit has the best people in the world.

Bandit is heading toward the 50th anniversary with even more excitement and enthusiasm than they have had in the first 40 years. The entire team is poised and eager to offer all of their friends and clients the best solutions to their visual needs. Bandit would like to thank all of the numerous friends and clients they have made in the last 40 years for trusting Bandit with their illumination needs. Bandit promises to continue to raise the bar, increase the quality, and guarantee satisfaction that exceeds expectations.

Bandit will always ask the question, "How can we make it better?"

In picture: Bandit president and COO Peter Heffernan; Alabama crew: Michael Strickland, Mike Golden, Eric "Rock" Shafferman, George Hays, Ken Rumgay, Kent Shafferman, Joe Carpenter, Hampton Price "Scuba" Osborne.

Sennheiser Expands its Wedemark, Germany Site

Sennheiser is expanding its corporate headquarters in Germany. Sennheiser, one of the region's largest employers, plans to extend the site by the addition of a production and technology centre as well as a customer centre. A total sum of more than €20 million (approximately $32 million USD) is to be invested by 2011. This expansion represents a clear commitment by the internationally-active family company to its base in Wedemark, near Hanover.

"The continuous increase in our activities, and the resulting growth in our workforce make it necessary for us to expand our company headquarters," explained Prof. Dr. Jörg Sennheiser, chairman of the supervisory board, at Sennheiser's annual press conference. "This strengthening of the Wedemark site will support the positive development of the global Sennheiser Group and will further increase our customer orientation."

A structural plan for the company site was developed in cooperation with Essen-based architect Jürgen Reichardt, and is to be implemented over the next few years. Construction will begin this November with the building of a new production and technology centre at a cost of around €10 million (approximately $16 million USD). This will be followed, at a later date, by the construction of an international customer centre.

"The expansion of the corporate headquarters is a clear indication of the Sennheiser family's commitment to Wedemark as a manufacturing location," said Volker Bartels, speaker of the executive team and president, manufacturing and logistics, commenting on the construction project.

The new technology and production centre will provide around 5,000 square metres (over 53,800 square-feet) of production area on two levels, which can be flexibly used according to requirements and order volumes. The surrounding offices can be freely assigned as required. "This flexible use of facilities corresponds to the state-of-the-art in factory planning," Bartels explained. "In addition to the company management and the works council, Sennheiser employees from various departments were also involved in planning the initial layout. This allowed experience and knowledge from the most varied disciplines to be integrated into the designs." The new production and technology centre will be used primarily for the manufacture of wireless systems and microphones, as well as for developing and testing new technologies.

The new building project is at the same time the prerequisite for the relocation of the almost 200 employees currently working at the Burgdorf site. Combining the two factories in Wedemark will improve efficiency by streamlining the production processes. What's more, the close proximity to the development facilities will bring significant advantages in ramping up production of new products. The relocation of employees from Burgdorf will probably take place at the end of 2009.

After completion of the production and technology centre, a customer centre will be built at the entrance to the site. It will create a representative environment that will enable visitors and customers to experience the Sennheiser brand at its headquarters. The initial design ideas for the customer centre include 'sound islands' that introduce visitors to the subject of acoustics and a Sennheiser stage that allows products to be tested in practical application.

"The expansion of the existing architecture in Wedemark will enable all corporate functions at the company headquarters to work more closely together and to communicate more efficiently," Bartels said. Not least, of course, the aim is also to provide both Sennheiser employees and international visitors with a future-oriented and attractive environment.

In picture: the new technology and production centre.

Bandit History: 40 Years of Excellence

Part 5: The 2000's

The new millennium began for Bandit at Mach 10 with their hair on fire! Bandit was involved globally in a huge number of events to mark the change of the century and it took all hands on deck for a three-month period to assure the quality Bandit was hired to deliver. The global Bandit team went above and beyond the call of duty and by New Years Eve, the ‘Bandit Standard' was in force from Los Angeles to New York, London then Beijing to Honk Kong and back again. As the new era came rushing in, Bandit continued to add new inventory, employees, higher standards of training and purchase more real estate. There was certainly a market for the high quality product that had become known as the ‘Bandit Standard.'

Many high-profile events came to Bandit, starting with the Presidential Inaugural Balls. Bandit was chosen in 2001 and 2005 to light the four largest celebrations in Washington, D.C. for the incoming President. In the UK, Bandit was tapped as the lighting supplier for the prestigious Blenheim Palace Festivals. During that time, Bandit also began an ongoing relationship with NASCAR by lighting the culmination of the racing season, the NASCAR Cup Awards, which is broadcast live on worldwide television every year.

In the European market, as the Lord of the Dance brand continued to grow, Michael Flatley turned to Bandit and rolled out two new and very successful products, Feet of Flames and Celtic Tiger. The Feet of Flames tour gave its swan song at a sold-out Hyde Park performance to over 100,000 exuberant fans. For 10 continuous years, the Bandit staff has helped Mr. Flatley present Irish Dance globally, with troupes in the U.K., Europe, Asia, South America and the U.S.

During the 2000's, Bandit would have many opportunities to work on the grandest stages in Europe. Many notable events were supported by Bandit in Hyde Park including sold-out mega events by R.E.M., Feet of Flames and the reunion of legendary rock icons, Queen. Manager, Jim Beech, tour manager, Robbie Williams and lighting designer extraordinaire, Baz Halpin called on Bandit in 2004 to provide global lighting service for the remarkable band, Queen. Queen is slated to return for another world tour beginning late 2008 with Bandit on board again. Today chief executive, Lester Cobrin, general manager, James Harden, Roger Grybowicz, Mick Freer, Emma Russell, Stuart Christie and the wonderful team in the UK are always on top of their game and continue to provide tour support for many outstanding acts.

In 2004, designer Steve Cohen engaged Bandit for the long awaited reunion of the Monsters of Rock, Van Halen. The dazzling Cohen design for Eddie, Sammy and the gang took the world by storm as Van Halen's fierce brand of music was heard again for the first time in over a decade. The rig was massive as always and featured 300 plus powerful moving lights, miles of truss and audience abuse beyond belief.

As Bandit continued to grow in the UK and Europe, the opportunity presented itself for Bandit to sponsor a Porsche Super Cup car, which races before the Formula 1 races on the same courses. For two years, Bandit and their clients had unfettered access to the pit and paddock area of every F1 race. This partnership led to Bandit illuminating a number of F1 cars, booths and events during that time.

Also in the early part of the decade, Bandit became more heavily involved in television specials and event lighting. The Clinton Economic Summit led into a number of political events with some of the most notable names in TV lighting. Bandit lit several conferences in the East Room of The White House as time progressed. MTV, CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, VH 1, BBC, SKY TV and many other entities became regular clients of Bandit. Rob Baxter and Randy Nordstrom engaged Bandit to light the NBA Finals entertainment for worldwide TV in the mid-2000's. The move into sports would continue globally as the U.K. office began to light soccer Premier League events and other such items.

Bandit also began a relationship with several festivals during the 2000's. Radio One's One Big Weekend became a Bandit client in 2003 and a host of current pop and rock stars made the event a very special day. The Cork Festival in Ireland also engaged Bandit. The Country Music Association hired Bandit Lites as the illumination company for a huge event known as Fan Fair, held every year in Nashville, Tennessee. Virtually every artist of note in the country music industry participates in the event. By 2003, the CMA Music Festival moved into the Tennessee Titans Football Stadium, playing to 80,000 people a night for four nights. This event is broadcast worldwide on live television. The inventory and planning required for this single event is massive and continues to grow and evolve every year.

Bonnaroo, another Bandit-lit festival, takes place 100 miles below Nashville in Manchester, Tennessee. The event's production guru, Hadden Hippsley, works yearly with Dizzy Gosnell and Steve Powell from Bandit to come up with the design, schedule and equipment that works over a four-day period. Over the years, The Police, Metallica, Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Kayne West, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, The Dead, The Allman Brothers Band, Radiohead, Dave Matthews Band, Tom Petty, Widespread Panic, Phish, James Brown, String Cheese Incident and other acts graced the stage at Bonnaroo.

The demand on Bandit in the U.S. pushed all of the facilities and staff beyond the limit and in 2002, Bandit purchased a 150,000 square foot building in Nashville. This new building, in conjunction with the original 30,000 square foot facility, gave the company the much-needed space to deliver even more quality jobs and make life better for both staff and clients. The new facility serves as a storage and preparation area, which allowed the original facility to become a fulltime rehearsal facility. The facility (known as Venue One) is available to Bandit clients at no additional charge and is booked 40 weeks every year.

Lighting designers are also able to use Venue One to hang their systems for base programming. The additional space became an invaluable tool for Bandit clients as the light systems now show up fully prepped, labeled, tested and programmed.

Bandit now services the U.S. from its three bases in Knoxville, Nashville and San Francisco. Mike Golden, Pete Heffernan, Dizzy Gosnell, Lee Anne Cooke, Richard Willis, Brent Barrett, Steve Powell, JR Sander, Richard Owens, Roth Edwards, Leonard Cox, Kimberly Ainge, Cori Link and a great staff steer things in the U.S. and strive to be the best in the world at what they do.

Going from strength to strength, the Bandit installation sales team has grown and becomes better and better. Today, led by senior sales director, John Rolison, with Richard Owens, Roth Edwards, Chris Barbee, John Jenkinson and an invaluable support staff, Bandit has multiple installations ongoing. Everything from the CNN Studios, the Home Shopping Network to Ripley's Aquarium and The Superdome in New Orleans, Bandit delivers constant service and quality to the world's top facilities. Thousands of churches, schools and theaters have also used Bandit for their installations over the years. Turnkey installation with exemplary service after the sale is the hallmark of the Bandit Lites' sales team.

Corporate firms have also come to trust Bandit with their image presentation. When industry leader, Harley Davidson celebrated their 100th Anniversary in Milwaukee Wisconsin, Bandit Lites was there to illuminate Elton John, Tim McGraw and many other world-class artists as well as a crowd of over 100,000 Harley fanatics. Playboy magazine turned 50 in 2005 and selected Bandit to light their traveling exhibit of memorabilia as it toured the world for a year. The one of a kind Chevrolet Corvette celebrated 50 years in 2006 and once again, Bandit was the company of choice to make this revolutionary car shine at the event. Finally, the legendary Fender Stratocaster turned 50 and celebrated in London with a star-studded event for the ages. Brian May, Joe Walsh, David Gilmour, Paul Rodgers, Ronnie Wood, Gary Moore, Paul Carrick, Mike Rutherford, Amy Winehouse and many other celebrities played at the event with Bandit providing a 50 ft. Strat guitar out of truss and lights along with the rest of a massive Baz Halpin lighting rig.

In the 2000's, Bandit continued to diversify its clientele. For several years, Bandit has worked with designer, Simon Tutchener on London Fashion Week. The wildly popular TV show, X-Factor hit the road with Bandit as the hire company and worldwide sensation UFC, Ultimate Fighting Championship has contracted with Bandit for their European lighting needs. The fine people at Production North, Steve Levitt, Iain Whitehead and Sarah Hollis as well as their staff continue to collaborate with Bandit on many different and exciting opportunities.

A 15-year Bandit client, WWE, has continued to grow and trust in Bandit as each extravaganza is larger than the one before. The team of Kevin Dunn, Jason robinson, Duncan Leslie and Michael Grossman work tirelessly every day to deliver the best worldclass sports entertainment television. Over 1,000 hours of live TV are shot every year with 16 major Pay-Per-Views and the grand daddy of them all, Wrestlemania. Bandit delivers lighting quality in bulk at an unmatched level. The biggest event yet was the just completed Wrestlemania XXIV at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

As the company grows, Bandit continues to develop and manufacture products to meet the market demand. Bandit proudly uses its own PowerPro power distribution system in the U.S. and System 125 in Europe. System 125 power distribution equipment was designed to meet all VDE, UK and EU standards and all components are CE marked.

The patented Bandit Moto Data and motor control systems are synonymous with a Bandit system on a global basis. The manual motor control consoles include a virtual light rig on the face (with switches placed where the motors are located) provides both an artistic masterpiece, a must have safety device and a great piece of wall art after a tour.

The industry as a whole continues to morph into newer versions of itself. Somewhere along the way, the Vari*Lite brand was purchased by Genlyte, and latter by Phillips. As the Vari*Lite products were made available to purchase, Bandit took one look and bought in big. Today Bandit is one of the world's largest Vari*Lite rental houses with a complete offering of the fine products. Owning VL products has allowed Bandit to work with a pool of quality designers that previously used other vendors. Lead by TSD leaders Roth Edwards and Jake Tickle, Bandit has one of the best VL service capabilities on the globe.

Bandit has fully embraced the brave new world of digital lighting with numerous media servers, sophisticated consoles, LED products and other innovative technology. There is a lot of time and money being spent at Bandit to train the staff in the application and operation of the many new technologies. This education benefits each individual, each client and Bandit. The entire industry gains from ongoing education. Mr. Rick Berry, Director of Global Education Services maintains an unbelievable digital database of all technical things Bandit-related. Any Bandit tech can access the entire knowledge base from any computer in the world. This is no small accomplishment. The Bandit Global IT Director, Jim Guinn along with Jeff Vogt and the entire team keep a worldwide VPN up and running 24 hours a day, seven  days a week.

Over the years, Bandit has had the great fortune to work with many of the world's leading production talents, including Willie Williams, Seth Jackson, Baz Halpin, Dave Davidian, Simon Tutchener, Randy Nordstrom, Sean Motley, Sid Strong, Tellson James, Patrick Woodroffe, Mark Fisher, Abbey Rosen Holmes, Mark Cunniffe, Andi Watson, Bob Peterson, Dave Butzler, Keith Wissmar, Peter Morse, Mike Swinford, Allen Branton, Steve Cohen, Joel Young and a host of others. Bandit looks forward to making newfriends and gaining the trust and respect of new designers in the future. Some of the clients Bandit has had the pleasure of working with in the last decade includes Van Halen, Queen, Seal, Alice Cooper, Barry Manilow, Christina Aguilera, Def Leppard, Donny Osmond, CSNY, Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett, Keith Urban, Linkin Park, Mark Knopfler, Melissa Etheridge, The Offspring, Radiohead, REM, Savage Garden, Star Wars, Status Quo, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Roxy Music, Brian Wilson, Westlife, ZZ Top, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Shinedown, Santana, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Disturbed, John Fogerty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, Pink, Pussycat Dolls, Joe Cocker, String Cheese Incident, System of a Down, Cbeebies, Girls Aloud, Shayne Ward, Travis, White Stripes, Smashing Pumpkins, Carrie Underwood, Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson and many, many other fine artists. The roster is impressive and continues to grow.

Bandit is committed to a better future through aggressive education programs, fulltime employment, great retirement plans, benefit packages for staff and also through active partnerships with many schools and universities. Every year students work at Bandit through internship programs and gain insight and education into the real world operation of the entertainment industry. In the UK, Bandit works with Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, or LIPA, which is Sir Paul McCartney's personal mission. Every year Sir Paul and Bandit present the award to the ‘Lighting Designer of the Year' at LIPA graduation. There is a very active partnership in Nashville with Belmont University and in Knoxville with the University of Tennessee to help young students advance in the world of entertainment lighting.

As Bandit looks back at the first decade of the new millennium, the opportunities and rewards have been unbelievable. The future looks very promising and the staff is very eager to move ahead and provide the industry with the best possible illumination services on the planet. It would be remiss to not also mention the wonderful wives, husbands and families of all the Bandit staff globally, as without their unbelievable support none of the last forty years would have been possible.

In February 2008, Pollstar CIC awarded Bandit Lites the coveted ‘Lighting Company of the Year' Award. This was the 16th time Bandit has won such an award, more than any other lighting company in the world. This was all made possible by the dedication and desire of the fine people that are the heart and soul of Bandit Lites.

Bandit CEO, Michael T. Strickland comments on Bandit's 40 year history: "If one were to sum up the last 40 years of Bandit Lites' success it would be simply put: Humility, Humanomics and The Bandit Standard. As long as Bandit delivers these three things with grace and passion, the sky will be the limit."

www.banditlites.com

Robe Lighting Offers Flexible Financing Package

Robe Lighting is collaborating with Netherlands-based Leasing Services to develop a series of dynamic financial packages for its clients and business partners. These can either be arranged directly with the client/rental company/end user or via over 40 of Robe's worldwide distributors.

"We have been looking for a suitable and solidly reliable leasing partner for some time, and a lot of careful consideration has gone into our decision to team up with Leasing Services," comments Robe lighting MD Josef Valchar. "This agreement is a major step forward in Robe's evolution, and will greatly benefit a majority of our business partners and clients by facilitating a wide range of accessible, flexible, cost-effective finance options."

The overall effect will be to open new doors and assist in the general growth and the challenges of achieving more business for those who have invested in the Robe brand.

Interested parties will be able to fill in the initial inquiry forms on the Robe website www.robe.cz and send these directly to the relevant financial partner to get the ball rolling quickly and efficiently.

Leasing Services is an international provider of financial services that has focused on the professional sound and lighting industry since 2006, before which it provided consultant services to large internationally based financial institutions.

"We are a typical niche player, bridging the gap between stakeholders in the sound and lighting industry and financial organisations," says Frans Jansen, MD of Leasing Services. He spotted a gap in the market for active international involvement in this special area of the professional entertainment and leisure industry. "Freeing up working capital and offering staged repayment on equipment over a period when the investment is actually generating income is common in other areas like IT, but relatively new in this industry," he observes.

Robe lighting and Leasing Services will fine tune and rollout the programme over the next few weeks, with the service officially launched on September 6^{th, just ahead of the PLASA 2008 exhibition in London.}

www.robe.cz

LSC Invests in Australian Built Products

With the current trend of outsourcing product manufacture to Asian countries, Australian Lighting Control System manufacturer, LSC Lighting Systems has bucked the trend and invested heavily in expanding manufacturing within its own home market.

LSC's managing director, Gary Pritchard, explains: "Although the perceived financial benefits of manufacturing in Asia are tempting, the stories of inferior quality products and lost Intellectual Property experienced by other companies exploring this option, have convinced us to invest here in Australia. We are very protective of our Intellectual Property (designs) and we pride ourselves on the high quality and enduring products we build. Both of these qualities, we felt, could be at great risk if outsourced to areas that are hard to directly control from Australia."

To show our customer base that LSC products are indeed ‘Products of Australia', the company has recently qualified for the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry ‘Australian Made' campaign, recognising its commitment to Australian designed and manufactured products. Gary adds "There is much confusion about where products actually come from these days and joining this program was we felt an independent way of confirming that the products we sell are fully manufactured in Australia to our exacting standards. Participation in this program allows us to use the Government owned green and gold kangaroo 'Product of Australia' logo on qualifying products."

LSC recently moved to new purpose built premises - doubling its previous floor space. The manufacturing and warehousing areas have been designed with a more open plan suitable for the Lean Manufacturing principles that company has adopted. Staff numbers have increased by 30% over the last 12 months with recent emphasis on the Sales and Engineering sectors of the company. Further investment in design tools and business management systems have aided in the increased efficiency the company has experienced. Gary adds: "The building was certainly a big factor in LSC's expansion program, but employing the right staff, designing the right products and delivering what we say we're going to do, have undoubtedly increased the confidence of our customers in the LSC name. We are proud to be an Australian owned and operated company, building and shipping Australian made products to all corners of the world."

www.lsclighting.com.au

Turkish Delight for LSC

LSC has announced that Asimetrik/Medya, based in Istanbul, have been appointed as their Turkish distributor.

Pete Floyd, LSC International Sales, comments: "Medya have had a great start by supplying and commissioning a number of projects in both Turkey and Kazakhstan - one of which was the Music TV station, KRAL TV in Istanbul.

The station features live music and video and runs 24/7. Semih Oztunc from Medya comments: "Having equipment that is not only reliable but can run continuously as necessary was an important factor in choosing LSC for this project. It has been fantastic and the studio is very happy with their purchase." There are four of the e24 touring dimmers and a maXim LP lighting console controlling all the generic and moving lights in the studios.

Mert Kilcote, Asimetrik's international sales manager commented: "We believe in selling only quality products that come with good technical support and backup. LSC Lighting has a great product range including the e24 and EKO dimmer systems and along with the maXim lighting console, we look forward to a long and beneficial relationship."

www.lsclighting.com.au

Meyer Sound Announces 24-hour Technical Support Phone Line

Meyer Sound has announced the launch of its 24-hour worldwide technical consultation phone line, a new addition to the company's comprehensive customer support program.

Long known for its award-winning products and exceptional customer service, Meyer Sound understands the pressure audio professionals could face during setup for a live show or in the middle of a critical installation. While its worldwide education program and powerful system design and optimization tools - such as MAPP Online Pro acoustical prediction program and SIM 3 audio analyzer - empower customers to create the best listening experience possible for the audience, Meyer Sound believes that accessible service is essential to ensure success for each customer.

"We take pride in giving our customers 100% confidence when using our products, from highly reliable and pristine-sounding equipment to accessible and knowledgeable support when they need it," says John Monitto, director of technical support. "It is important for us to work closely with our customers and give them the attention they deserve."

For Meyer Sound's 24-hour technical consultation service, call +1 510 486 0657.

MILOS Launches New Website

Trussing manufacturer MILOS has launched a new website. The elegant contemporary design is complemented by a wealth of information about the company and its products and services, including all the latest project news.

The site has been designed for quick and straightforward navigation. "It's extremely logical to negotiate," says marketing manager Jiri Bruza "so people can find the facts they need very easily. We appreciate that everyone is very busy these days, so this is a vital element of any successful website."

The site is divided into different sections. The Products section contains flash videos of 3D presentations and PDFs containing the full specifications and technical data for each standard MILOS product. CAD blocks for standard MILOS products to assist with Autocad project designs for client presentations/approval are also available for download, along with TUV certification for products, and a host of other useful documentation.

The Projects section is divided into two sub-groups, Entertainment and Exhibitions. It includes all the latest news and photos of how the many different MILOS products are being used for a wide variety of applications worldwide in these two different areas.

The Download section offers more useful information including logos, product CAD blocks, the latest MILOS catalogues and certificates etc.

The 'Why MILOS' section contains two specially commissioned videos that give a fast-paced overview of the breadth and diversity of the product ranges, the extensive services and the super-fast delivery for which MILOS is renowned, complete with application examples.

The Contact Us page gives an overview of the MILOS worldwide distribution network. It has an easy inquiries template, complete with file attachment facility for potential clients to attach additional information about their prospective projects.

The News section contains details of all the latest news releases covering a wide range of MILOS activities, and the Careers section offers job opportunities for hard working individuals who are interested in joining the MILOS team.